Reclosure container



Allg 27, 1957 G. w. wlGER'r 2,804,232

REcLosuRE cN'rAINER Filed Dec. 30. 1954 Z' l f4 FIG' 5 lilllllmunns ff f y Patented Aug. 27, 1957 RECLOSURE CONTAINER George W. Wigert, Union, N. J., assigner to American Can Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application December 30, 1954, Serial No. 478,575

s claims. (C1. 22o- 54) The present invention relates to tearing strip reclosure cans, and has particular reference to a can of this type in which an interior collar is provided and in which an upper, inwardly bent edge of the collar is utilized to provide locking shoulders for securely retaining the reclosure member in place after the can has been opened by removal of the tearing strip.

An object of the invention is the provision of a hermetically sealed, tamper proof tearing strip container which, upon removal of the tearing strip, is transformed into an attractive lock-top reclosure container having a rotary, plug-type reclosure member.

Another object is to provide such a container in which all of the raw edges produced by the removal of the tearing strip are shielded so that the rotary reclosure plug may be firmly gripped and securely rotated into locking position on the can without danger to the hands of the user.

Still another object is to provide in a tearing strip container a safe, attractive lock-top reclosure feature at minimum expense by utilizing the upper curled edge of the collar `as a locking seat for a stepped, rotary reclosure.

Yet another object is to provide such a reclosure can wherein complete annular contact is maintained between the top of the collar curl and an annular wall on the rotary reclosure in order to produce a tight reclosure seal.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure l is a perspective view of the upper portion of an unopened can embodying the present invention, parts being broken away;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section on an enlarged scale taken substantially along a plane indicated by the line 2 2 in Fig. 1, with parts broken away;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the reclosure member in locked position subsequent to the removal of the tearing strip;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken substantially along the line 4 4 in Fig. 3, parts being broken away;

Fig. 5 is affragmentary Vertical section taken through the upper end of the can after removal of the tearing strip, with the reclosure removed;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary plan view of a portion of the upper end of the can after opening, with the reclosure removed;

Figs. 7 and 8 are enlarged vertical sections taken substantially along the lines 7 7 and 8 8 in Fig. 5; and

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary vertical sectional detail similar to Fig. 3 of a modified form of invention in which a reclosure gasket is provided.

As a preferred or exemplary embodiment of the instant invention, the drawings disclose a sheet metal can 10 which includes a tubular cylindrical body 12 having its longitudinal edges joined together in a side seam 14 and having an imperforate plug-type top closure member 16 secured to its upper end in a double seam 18. The bottom of the can is closed by means of an imperforate bottom closure member 20 (see Fig. 6) secured in a suitable bottom end seam (not shown).

Adjacent its upper end, the can 10 is provided with an internal collar 22 having a smooth cylindrical wall 24 which ts snugly within the can body 12 in frictional engagement therewith. The bottom edge of the collar 22 is formed into a hollow curl 26 which is rmly seated within an outward bead 28 formed in the body 12 to anchor the collar 22 against longitudinal or rotary movement. If desired, a cement or sealing compound (not shown) may be interposed between the curl 26 and bead 28. The top edge of the collar 22 is bent or formed into a hollow curl 30 which is offset inwardly from the cylindrical collar wall 24.

The top closure or cover 16 is formed with a peripheral ange 31 which is permanently interfolded with a flange 32 of the body 12 to form the end seam 18 and thus produce a hermetically sealed can. The cover ange 31 merges into an annular countersink wall 33 which extends downwardly behind the end seam 18 and then merges into a so-called step which is composed of a narrow annular horizontal wall 34 and a substantially vertical wall 36, the external diameter of which is less than the inside diameter of the collar curl 30. The vertical wall 36 in turn merges into an imperforate central sunken panel 38. This type of closure, wherein is provided a lower wall 36 of lesser diameter than the countersink wall 33, is commonly referred to as a stepped closure.

In order to provide for the initial opening of the hermetically sealed can, a tearing strip 4t) (see Figs. 1 and 2) is formed in the body wall adjacent the collar 22. The tearing strip 40 terminates in a free tongue 42 which projects from the side seam 14 (see Fig. 1), and is defined by a pair of spaced and parallel circumferential score lines 44, 46 which extend completely around the body 12. The score lines 44, 46 are placed so that the raw edges which result from removal of the tearing strip 40 are shielded from the hands of the user. Thus, the lower score line 46 is placed outside of the cylindrical collar wall 24 so that it is backed and shielded by the collar 22, and the upper score line 44 is placed at the base of the upper end seam 18 where it is shielded by the seam 18 and backed by the lower portion of the countersink wall 33.

A can-opening break-olf key 47 having a slot 48 may be provided for engagement with the tearing tongue 42 to effect removal of the tearing strip 40 and severance or detachment of the top closure member 16 and double seam 18 from the can body 12. The key may be welded or otherwise secured to any suitable surface of the can 10, Iand is here shown secured to the top closure member 16.

After the initial opening of the container, it is often desirable or necessary to use the severed upper portion of the container, which portion includes the top closure member 16 and double seam 18, as a stepped reclosure which shall hereinafter be designated by the numeral 48 (Fig. 3). In order to effect a positive locking engagement between this reclosure 48 and the body 12, a plurality of outwardly projecting locking lugs 50 (Figs. l, 2, 3 and 4) are formed in the vertical closure wall 36. These locking lugs 50 are equally spaced circumferentially around the wall 36 and are preferably shaped so that at least their upper or locking surfaces 52 are inclined to the horizontal `both circumferentially (see Fig. 4) and ra dially (see Figs. 2 and 3). j

The lugs 50 maybe formed -inany suitable manner. In `the construction .disclosed in `the,drawings, spaced .peripheral portions ofthe Yclosure panel 38 :and ladjacent portions of theannular vertical wall136 are subjected to a controlled collapsing operation which reshapes the collapsed por-tions of the Wall 36 outwardly to form `the projecting lugs v50. During this operation, the spaced peripheral portions of the closure panel `3S are reshaped into radially inclined Walls 54 (Figs. l, 2, 3 and 4) which extend to .the .bases .of the lugs 50. The sides of these inclined walls 54 are connected to the .fiat panel 38 through small webs 55 which are ,substantially triangular in conv figuration.

The locking -lugs 50 cooperate with a plurality of correspondingly spaced locking shoulders 56 (see Figs. 2, 3,

5, 6 and 7) which are .formed in the collar curl 3d and project inwardly from its normal inner circumference towards the vert-ical cover wall 36. As seen in Fig. 2, the inner edges of the shoulders S6 are spaced slightly from the wall 36. The locking shoulders 56 comprise portions of the curl 30 which are Vflattened or hemmed in an axial direction and are formed with substantially ilat upper surfaces which are substantially coplanar with the upper surfaces of the adjoining unilattened hollow portions 58 of the curl 30 (see Figi). The inner portions of the locking shoulders 56 are bent downwardly in order to form locking surfaces 60 which engage against and are circumferentially inclined in order to match the inclination of the lug locking surfaces 52 (see Fig. 4).

As can be seen in Fig. 2, the closure lugs Sti are positioned just above the upper edge of the collar 22 prior to removal of the tearing strip 40 to permit the closure 16 to be randomly positioned on the body 12 as an incident to the formation of the double seam 18.

The can is initially opened by removal of the tearing strip 40, after which the severed reclosure 48 can be used to eliectively reseal the top of the can and protect its contents. In use, the reclosure 48 is positioned on the collar and, if necessary, rotated until the lugs S6 are radially aligned with the undeforrned collar curl por tions 58. When the parts are thus aligned thelugs 5t) drop down in back of the portion 58 and the annular wall 36 seats on the upper collar curl 30. Rotation of the reclosure 48 then locks the lugs 50 beneath the locking shoulders 56 as shownfin Figs. 3 and 4. The inclination of the mutually engaging lug locking surfaces 52'and shoulder locking surfaces 60 produces a camming or wedging action which pulls Ythe closure 16 tightly against the collar 22 and locks the parts securely together, thereby insuring against accidental opening of the can. This is highly desirable with contents which are dispensed or used up in repeated quotas, such as cereals, ground coffee, shortening, etc.

As previously mentioned, the locking shoulders 56 arey so formed that the smooth, coplanar continuity of the t top of the collar curl 30 is maintained. As Va result there is at least line contact between the collar curl 30 and the reclosure wall 36 for a full 360. Thus, a tight reclosure seal is effected and leakage of thecontainer contents is prevented. While such a reclosure is not completely hermetic, it is tight enough to effectually prevent circulation of air into and from the interior ofthe can. if a more hermetic reseal is needed, a thin annular gasketZ (see Fig. 9) may be secured against the undersurface of the annular wall 36 to seat against the collar curl 3G during reclosure.

Since all the raw edges produced by removal of the tearing strip 46 are shielded, considerable pressure may be exerted against the can parts during the application or removal of the reclosure without danger to the hands of the user. v Y

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant'advantages will be understood from the foref been detached l from going description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and lar.- .rangement of the parts without departing from the spint adjacent said tearing strip, vthe upper edge of said collar being bent inwardly at spaced intervals to form inwardly projectinglocking shoulders which project inwardly a greater distance than do those portions of said upper collar edge between said locking shoulders, and a closure member secured to an end of said body adjacent said collar and provided with a substantially vertical annular wall of lesser radius than the minimum `inside radius of said collar as measured from the innermost portions ot said locking shoulders, said wall having formed therein a plurality of outwardly projecting .locking lugs, said lugs being axially insertable between and circumferentially rotatable into locking engagement beneath said locking shoulders to removably secure said closure to said collar after said closure has been detached from` said body by removal of said tearing strip.

2. 'A sheet metal reclosure container comprising a tubular cylindrical body provided with a circumferential tearing strip, yan interior collar secured within said` body adjacent Isaid tearing strip,` the upper edge of said collar being hemmed ,inwardly at spaced intervals to provide a plurality of ilattened, inwardly projecting, circumferentially inclined locking shoulders, a closure member se cured to an end of said body adjacent said collar and provided with a substantially `vertical annular wall of lesser external diameter than the inside diameter of said hemmed collar edge portions, and a corresponding plu rality of outwardly projecting locking lugs formed in Vsaid Vertical closure wall, said locking lugs being axially insertable between and circumferentially rotatable into locking engagement beneath said inclined locking shoulders to removably secure said closure to said collar after said closure has been detached from said body by removal of said tearing strip.

' 3. A sheet metal reclosure container comprising a tubular cylindrical body, provided with a circumferential tearing strip, an interior collar secured within said Ebody adjacent said tearing strip, the upper edge `of said collar being formed into an inwardly offset hollow curl, said curl being flattened at spaced intervals to provide locking shoulders which project inwardly a greater distance than do the unilattened curl portions, a closure member secured to an end of said kbody adjacent said collar and provided with 'a substantially `vertical .annu` lar =wall of lesser external radius than the minimum insidejradius of said collar `as measured `from the innermost portions of said locking shoulders, and a plurality of outwardly projecting locking lugs formed in said vertical-closurewall, said locking lugs being axially insertable between and circumferentially rotatable into locking engagement beneath said locking shoulders to removably secure said closure to said collar after said closure has said body by removal of said tearing strip.

4. The container of claim 3 in which said locking lugs vare normally spaced above said collar curl when the uppermost surfaces of said collar curl and engageable References Cited in the le of this patent theragtainstvherlll said detacllzd closure 1ist renggabll se- UNITED STATES PATENTS cure o ysar co ar o provi e a comp e e se 7. The container of claim 6 in which a sealing gasket Iggson V y 1 I U rlgltltnosed between said horizontal wall and said co 5 2,348,750 Pek u May V16, 1944 8. The container of claim 3 in which the mutually 2430'036 Thornburgh et al NOV' 4 1947 engageable locking surfaces of said locking shoulders and said locking lugs are correspondingly inclined circumferentially from the horizontal to produce a wedging action 10 to pull said detached closure against said collar. 

